Chris Hemsworth talks ‘Thor 2,’ fighting the Hulk and working with Anthony Hopkins
From “Thor” to “Avengers” and back to “Thor 2,” Chris Hemsworth has made his mark on comic book movies. The Australian actor can now reflect on the projects and getting ready for the next chapter.
During an interview with Flicks and Bits, published on Monday, the “Snow White and the Huntsman” star recalled how director Kenneth Branagh made Thor and Asgard so related to the audience.
“He doesn’t earn his powers through the film, or begin as a normal man. Thor, he’s already a God. It’s quite the opposite, we have to break him down, build him back up. Kenneth Branagh just kept saying to me, “Lets make it truthful, lets make it real. It’s you talking to your brother or it’s you talking to your father, don’t try to play a God.“ The costumes, the sets, everything else around us did that for us. For us it was about simplifying it and humanizing it.”
Hemsworth confesses he hasn’t read the script for “Thor 2,” but offered his insight into what fans can expect.
“A lot of real locations, as opposed to green screen, a lot of great sets. I know that is certainly something they want to do with the sequel, ‘Thor 2.’ Make Asgard more liveable and more tangible.”
One of the highlights of “The Avengers” was the battle between Thor and Hulk. Hemsworth described the challenge of ‘pretending’ with the CGI Hulk.
“…they were like, “Throw yourself on the ground.” I was like, “I’m not doing too well in this fight!” (Laughs) It was rather painful, but then we have the nice big uppercut which I was thankful for. With that fight, a lot of the time it was me having to pretend….it was like being a kid in the backyard swinging a stick around.”
He added that he loved Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner and Hulk.
“I loved what Mark Ruffallo did with The Hulk, he’s one of my favourite characters, watching what he did – and especially those sequences of Thor and Hulk fighting. Hulk backhanding Thor through the wall. Reading that, and on the page it said, “And Hulk smashes Thor and his big Norse face.” (Laughs).”
Anthony Hopkins will also return for “Thor 2” and the “Cabin in the Woods” star praised the legendary actor.
“He’s always been a big hero to me. With people like that you can’t help but absorb and learn from. There’s absolutely no ego with him, with him being someone everyone on set kind of wants to bow to (laughs). There was always advice if needed and there’s such appreciation for the business even how many films later, he’s been in the industry for this long, but he still loves making films. That’s infectious to be around.”
“Thor 2” will be second film in the new set of Marvel projects beginning next year. Hemsworth, Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba all return to lead the ensemble cast.
“Thor 2” opens on November 8, 2013.
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